Pressing equipment for pile fabrics



Dec. 29, 1953 D. M. KEAST 2,653,958

PRESSING EQUIPMENT FOR FILE FABRICS Filed Jun e, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. DO a/A M /(ea;f

Dec. 29, 1953 D. M. KEAST 2,663,958

PRESSI'NG EQUIPMENT FOR PILE FABRICS Filed June 6, .1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTOR. DOmz/Ay A4. Ke 1 Patented Dec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES earner OFFICE PRESSING EQUIPMENT FOR PILE FABRICS Dorothy .M. Keast, Philadelphia, :Pa.

Application June 6,1950, Serial N 0.166371 '3 "Claims. -(Cl. 38-141 i The present invention relates to equipment designed for the pressing of pile fabrics and'is concern-ed primarily with equipment which willor pile fabrics because when pressure is applied between the board and the iron thepile will be flattened out or matted and its characteristic structure and appearance lost.

There have been proposed certain devices for pressing such cut-pile fabrics. The now known equipment or" this general nature is characterized as including a pad or board which consistsessentially of a canvas base from which upstandsra plurality of metallic pins. This surface defined by the pins receives the mapped surface of the pile fabric and a steam iron is employedto'provide the necessary pressure and heat.

While the arrangement above described is an improvement over the ordinary ironing board, it is still unsatisfactory in many respects. When an iron is applied to the canvas base the metallic pins, being good conductors ofheat, quickly conduct this heat to the article being pressed and,

unless this heat is accurately controlled, there napped and pile fabrics which is characterized.

as includin a pressing surface that is adapted to receive the napped or pile surface of the article being pressed and which pressing surface is provided by a cut-pile animal fibre fabric.

Wool mohair is a good example of a cut-pile animal fibre fabric which may be employed .as the pressing surface. When the napped or pile surface. of the article being pressed is placed into 2 engagement with thepile surface of the mohair, the latter servesto properly support thecut pile in its upright or outstanding condition. The out pile of the mohair enters the interstices between the cut pile of the garment being pressed and due toits being an animal fibre it has relatively low heat conductivity as compared to metal. Thus any heat transmission from the iron is greatly retarded and the garment protectedi foreover, the mohair fibres exhibit a capillary action which has-a moisture absorbent eifect that prevents excess moisture from theste-arn collecting on the pile surface of the garment being pressed;

"While the cut-pile mohair fibres adequately support'the 'napped'sur 'face of the garment being pressed, they are of a resilient or elastic nature andcangive under excess pressure. Hence, the possibility of pluckin or piercing the garment, which is present when the metallic pins are used, is avoided. With the use of a cut-pile animal fibre fabric as the pressing surface of any article of pressing equipment of this general nature, the possibilityof plucking, piercing, matting, marring, or otherwise defacing the pile of the fabric being pressed is greatly reduced, if not substantially eliminated.

For certain types of pressing operations it is highly important that the steam be confined between'the garment being pressed'and the pressing pad or board that isemployed in conjunction therewith. With this thought in mind, a further object of the invention is to provide, in pressing equipment of the character indicated, a pressing device having a pressing surface provided by ool mohair with a layer of steam-impervious material immediately therebeneath. A metal foil such as aluminum foil is a good example of such steam-impervious material which may be positioned immediately beneath the wool mohair. This layer of aluminum foil prevents the dissipation orescape of live steam throug'nth'e press board or pad and thereby renders more efiicient the pressing operation. Asa practical matter the steam is actually deflected back into theLspace' between and among the mohair fibres by this layer of metal foil.

For pressngplain flat work a plain-substantially fiat press board or pad is indicated. An important object of the present invention is the provision in pressing equipment of the character aforesaid of such a press board which consists essentially of a base layer of heavy material such as canvas, a layer of steam-impervious material .such as metalfoil, a resilient layer which may 3 be of fibres or foam rubber, and a surface layer of a cut pile animal fibre fabric such as wool mohair.

Certain types of pressing operations require that opposite faces be pressed at the same time. As an example, a hem will have a napped or pile surface on both sides which preferably are simultaneously pressed. For this type of work a press cloth is indicated. Such a press cloth is susceptible of being folded over to accommodate both faces of the work and is also susceptible of being used under conditions in which the iron is applied to the backing surface of the press cloth rather than to the garment;

Thus, a further object of the invention is to provide, in pressing equipment of the type indicated, a press cloth which consists essentially of a surface layer of cut pile animal fibre fabric, such as wool mohair, an intermediate layer of linen crash or comparable fabric, and an upper layer of linen crash or equivalent fabric. These three layers are assembled as a laminated structure and are preferably joined, along one edge only. In use, the top layer of linen crash is moistened and an iron applied thereto. The steam which is created passes through the intermediate layer to the mohair.

Under certain conditions a device which is in the nature of a steam brush is necessary to raise the pile and eliminate shine and wrinkles, this being especially true when the velvet is bruised. Often finger marks and water marks appear and it is necessary to remove these marks and to freshen the pile fabric generally. An important object of the present invention is to provide a steam brush which will fulfill these requirements.

This object is achieved by providing a velvet steam brush, which consists essentially of a surface layer of a cut pile animal fibre such as wool mohair and which layer i backed by an upper layer of heavy muslin. The central or intermediate portion of the brush is padded by multiple layers of linen crash with the portions on either side thereof being adapted to be folded up over the padded portion and employed as a grip or handle. In use the multiple-layer crash pad is saturated by water and a hot iron applied thereto to generate steam. The portions on either side of the pad are then folded over to confine the steam and force it into the effective area of the mohair. These folded portions are availed of as a grip or handle and the device used in the manner of a steam brush.

Certain types of work such as sleeves, shoulders, hip lines, princess lines, silhouette lines, zippered closures and the like involve what is called contour pressing and require a suitably contoured cushion to carry out the necessary pressing operations. With this condition in mind, a further object of the invention is to provide, in pressing equipment of the character aforesaid, a contour cushion which consists essentially of a filled cushion body having an appropriate curvature on its upper working face and a fiat base. The flat base is rendered rigid by an appropriate backing, such as a stiff cardboard, and is covered with a material such as canvas. This base is provided with a hand hold in the form of a loop or strip made of canvas.

The curved surface of the cushion is covered by an underlying layer of steam-impervious material such as aluminum foil, over which is placed a surface layer of cotton or wool felt, with the outer covering being removable and of a cut-pile animal fibre fabric such as wool mohair.

In use this cushion may either be supported on an ironing board or table or the hand hold may be availed of and the cushions supported manually in any desired position.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises pressing equipment for pile fabrics with each piece of equipment characterized as including a pressing surface of cut-pile animal fibre fabric such as wool mohair. Included in this equipment are a press pad, a press cloth, a steam brush, and a contour cushion, all of novel construction.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side View mostly in elevation, but with parts broken away and shown in section, of a contour cushion that is designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the cushion shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of the cushion shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the steam brush as folded out fiat;

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation, with parts broken away and shown in section, of the brush shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of the steam brush with the end portions folded over the intermediate padded portion;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the press pad;

Figure 8 is a side view, mostly in elevation but with parts broken away and shown in section, of the pad shown in Figure 7;

Fdigure 9 is a top View of the press cloth; an

Figure 10 is a side elevational showing of the pad illustrated in Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawings, and first more particularly to Figures 7 and 8, a press pad is therein illustrated and referred to in its entirety by the reference character P. The press pad P may be of any configuration desired, although for the purposes of this specification it will be assumed that it has the simple rectangular formation illustrated with the side edges covered by binding designated 10.

The pad P comprises a base layer I! which may be made of any appropriate material such as heavy canvas, asbestos, or any fabric which will have the properties required for the base layer.

Immediately above the base layer ii there is a layer i2 that is intended to be steam-impervious. A metal foil such as aluminum foil is particularly indicated as the material for the layer i2. Over the layer I2 there is a layer 13 which is intended to function as a resilient or filler layer. This layer [3 may be of cellulose, cotton, wool, or the foam rubber illustrated in the drawing. The prime requirement of the layer 13 is that it be resilient. Above the layer 13 there is a surface layer M, which preferably is of wool mohair. Obviously, other out pile animal fibre fabrics might be substituted for wool mohair.

The prime requisites of this surface layer M are that it be of a cut-pile which :is :suificiently strong to support the pile of thegarment;.heinggpressedq and yet resilientrsouasrto haveuat; leastsome give. The fibres should be. animal; fibres bB'r cause of the capillary absorbent action; and :also due to its poor heat conductivity.-

It is intended that. the pad P be used by being placed on an ironing board, table or other support with the wool mohair surface 14 in an exposed upper position. The article-or garment to be pressed is placed with its napped or pile surface downward in engagement with the wool mohair. The iron is 'applied't-o the back of the garment and it is evident that steam will-befre fiected upwardly and confined by the layer it of aluminum foil; The cut pile of the material enters the interstices between the pile'offthe garment being pressed and offers an adequate though resilient support forthese fibres. The capillary action ofthewool mohair fibres prevents 1e accumulation of excess moisture in the pile of the garment.

Referring now more. particularly to Figures 9 and 10, a press cloth is therein illustrated and referred to in its entirety by the reference character C. For the purposes of this specification, press cloth C is shown as of rectangular formation, although it may be of other shapes. The important factor is that it have at least one straight edge, as indicated at 15, along which the several layers are joined by the stitchings represented at it.

The press cloth C comprises a pressing surface i? which is intended to engage the work and which is of wool mohair or other cut-pile animal fibre fabric. Adjacent to this wool mohair ll there is an intermediate layer I8 of linen crash or its equivalent, and there is an outer layer I?) of linen crash or its equivalent. These several layers ll, 18 and it are joined together much in the manner of a book along the edge 15, as indicated at l6.

In use, the garment being pressed is placed on an ironing board with its pile surface exposed upwardly. The outer layer I9 is saturated with water, whereupon the press cloth C is placed over the garment with the wool mohair surface I! in engagement with the pile surface of the garment and the outer layer [9 in an exposed upward position. The hot iron is applied to this outerlayer i9 and steam is generated thereby. This steam passes through the intermediate layer Hi to the wool mohair M.

It is evident that the cloth 0 may be folded to accommodate double-faced work.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4, 5 and 6, a steam brush is therein illustrated and referred to in its entirety by the reference character B. As shown in Figure 4 the brush B in a flattened out condition has a central portion 26 defined by straight side edges 2| and end portions 22 defined by the curved edges 23. Throughout the central portion 26 and the end portions 22 there is an outer working surface of wool mohair such as indicated at M in Figure 5. Over this wool mohair layer 24 there is a layer 25 of heavy muslin. The central portion 20 of the muslin .25 is covered by a plurality of layers of linen crash such as is represented at 26. These several layers 26 may be formed by folding a single strip in the manner depicted in Figure 5. Only the end portions of the layers 26 are stitched to the straight side edges 2|.

In use, the pad 26 is first saturated with water While the brush is in the flattened out condition depicted'zin Figures; 4 and; 5-. A hot iron is :then

applied tothe upper exposed-surfaces of the .pad: 2.6 and maintained in engagement therewith Zand 3, a contour cushion is therein illustrated v and referredtolin its entirety by the reference character A.v .The cushion A comprises a mainbody or filler 2"! which may be of an appropriate fibrous composition such as wool, cotton, cellulose or the like. This filler body A is of appropriate dimensions and from the particular use which is required of the cushion it should be approximately seven inches long, four and onehalf inches Wide, and three and one-half inches deep. It has what might be called a large or Wide end at 28 and a narrower end at 29. It is curved from end to end over the line so by an attenuated Hogarth curve with a dimple or depression being formed at 3!. It is also curved from side to side, as represented at 32. The curvatures 35 and 32 give in. effect an upper curved surface which is particularly suitable for the work required of it.

The cushion A also includes a base surface defined by a piece of canvas 33. Between this canvas base 33 and the filler pad 21 there is a piece of cardboard (it or a piece of other material having the required property of rigidity and which is included for the purpose of imparting rigidity of a required degree to the cushion.

Extending across the side edges of the bottom of the cushion is a loop or handle 35 which is also of canvas. Only the opposite ends of this loop 35 are stitched to the pad, leaving the central portion free for the insertion of the fingers of the user therebeneath.

The upper curved surface of the filler pad 21 is covered by a layer 36 of aluminum foil or other steam-impervious material. Over this layer of aluminum foil there is a surface layer of cotton or wool felt such as represented at 31. A removable wool mohair covering is represented at 38 and is detachably held in position over the upper curved surface by the overlapping corners shown at 39, 40, 4i and 42, and the elastic bands 43, 44, 45 and 46. The elastic band 43 joins the corners 39 and 40. The elastic band 44 joins the corners 4| and 42. The elastic bands 45 and 48 extendbetween the side edges of the cover and are so positioned as to not interfere with the use of the hand hold 35.

The wool mohair cover 38 is applied with its out pile in exposed position so that it may cooperate With the velvet or other pile fabric that is to be pressed thereon.

In use, the hand hold 35 may be availed of in manually supporting the cushion in any position required. Obviously the cushion may be placed with its base on a table, ironing board, or other support, under which condition the hand hold will not be used. The action of the wool mohair and layer of aluminum foil is the same as that heretofore described.

While preferred specific embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact materials, mechanisms and devices illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In pressing equipment for pile fabrics, a working unit having a working surface made up of a cut-pile animal fibre fabric, and a layer of steam-impervious material therebeneath.

2. In pressing equipment for pile fabrics, a working unit comprising a body member, a layer of steam-impervious material covering said body member, a layer of a resilient filler covering said layer of steam-impervious material, and an outer layer of a cut-pile animal fibre fabric covering said filler.

3. In pressing equipment for pile fabrics, a press pad comprising a base layer of fabric, a layer of steam-impervious material covering said base layer, a filler layer of resilient material covering said filler, and a surface layer of cut-pile animal fibre fabric.

DOROTHY M. KEAST.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 605,710 Goodall June 14, 1894 1,035,683 Brookman Aug. 13, 1912 1,289,142 Fische Dec. 31, 1918 1,611,031 Henderson Dec. 14, 1926 1,947,613 Northup Feb. 20, 1934 2,125,603 Crockford Aug. 2, 1938 2,246,101 McEnany June 7, 1941 2,278,517 John Apr. 7, 1942 

